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Re: MMR, Autism and Dr. Mansfield

Email F. Edward Yazbak, MD, FAAP:
TLautstudy@aol.com

MMR, Autism and Dr. Mansfield.

Dr. Azeem Majeed’s editorial on Dr. Peter Mansfield’s unfortunate referral to the General Medical Council [BMJ 2001;323:356 (18 August)] was excellent and his support of Dr. Mansfield, whilst he disagrees with his position on the MMR, is commendable. Dr. Mansfield should have never been threatened for providing a safe and proven alternative to children whose parents are adamantly opposed to the triple vaccine.

Dr. Majeed is correct: the monovalent vaccines are better than no vaccines at all.

The vaccine authorities and most physicians (Dr. Majeed included) believe that the MMR vaccine is safe. Many parents either disagree or are not yet convinced.

I am a pediatrician interested in both vaccination and regressive autism. I have interviewed hundreds of parents of children with autism. Many of them strongly believe that their normal children developed symptoms shortly after their MMR vaccination, stopped acquiring new skills, and then regressed. I do not believe the present propaganda campaign will convince those parents (or their friends and relatives) to accept any further MMR vaccinations. These people have witnessed—with their own eyes-- their children’s slide into autism. They have seen their own lives destroyed and have been outraged that no one has ever bothered to interview them. They have not been and will never be impressed by the epidemiological studies that the authorities continuously quote and will continue to demand independent clinical research.

Meanwhile vaccination rates will go down and outbreaks will occur.Peter Mansfield will be vindicated and his accusers will be looking for yet another epidemiological study to quote.

F. Edward Yazbak, MD, FAAP
TLAutism Research, Falmouth, Massachusetts, USA
TLAutStudy@aol.com

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Re: We must make a stand here ..

Email Dr L S Lewis:
surgery@newportpembs.freeserve.co.uk

How absolutely right Azeem Majeed is !

I may not agree with what Dr Mansfield may say, but I would defend his right to give separated vaccines to his patients, given their informed consent / choice ..

The State overstepped reason, when Dr Pat Troop announced on TV that separate vaccines were 'potentially dangerous' ( which vaccine/medicine isn't ? ). She went on to say that the State would actively discourage their use, and neither licence nor condone. So I have to import them from Switzerland. The State encouraged me to use them for the 25 years of practice before MMR was produced.. Experience enough to judge safety and efficacy ?

I have a number of 'conscientious objectors' to vaccination in my practice.. If the proportion of unvaccinated children exceeds 10% in any one year band, then I lose £3000 of income.. What next ? Criminal action against parents who do not have their children vaccinated ??

I believe in effective Immunisation, and in the parental right to make an informed choice.. Forced into a choice between the two, then I choose the latter.

Enough already !! Abandon this witch-hunt now !

Dr LS Lewis

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Re: Individual Vs Society

Email Sanjiv Ahluwalia:
Sanjivahluwalia@hotmail.com

The Royal College of General Practitioners espouse the value of informed patient choice. Every entrant is tested on this principle through the marking of videoes.

Just because patients choose an alternative form of therapy to the most desirable demonstrates the application of informed patient choice. For a Health Authority to send Dr Mansfield to the GMC suggests that the value of patient autonomy falls below that of government policy in this regard.

This case highlights the need for reform of the governance of Private Healthcare and Practitioners in ensuring the principles of safety and standards, rather than individually trying to make scapegoats out of doctors trying to offer alternatives to government dogma.

In tackling this case the GMC must weigh up the rights of the individual to make informed choices against the risk posed to society by individuals refusing interventions perceived to be for the greater good of the public.

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Re: Support

Email Amanda day:
amandaday1@btinternet.com

I support Dr Mansfield totally, as a mother of a 9 yr old son who was diagnosed as Autistic after having MMr. I know if i was to have any more children myself and my husband have already discussed the MMR issue and have said we would opt for single vaccines only.Surley if the department of health want to keep children vaccinated they would go with the parents wishes. I wish Dr Mansfield best of Luck.

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Re: Clinical Governance in Private Practice?

Email Martin McCloskey:
mmcc@btinternet.com

Majeed states that a health authority worried about the performance of a private practitioner has other options both informal and formal available to it, before referral to the GMC.

What formal option is available when the private practitioner has no contractual links with the Health Authority, Trusts, PCGs/Ts, or indeed any part of the NHS?